Posted by: Mary @ 1:20 pm
This small crazy quilt piece is something that I have been working on over time, hence it represents a time passage piece. It depicts a few special moments captured in time. My children were younger when I made the photo transfers and assembled the crazy quilt blocks. Most of the time I enjoy taking it out of the specialty threads basket kept on the side table, look at it and fondly reminisce, and then put it back. Sometimes I add some embroidery stitches to the piece.
Lately I have been reflecting on the passage of time and how things change and yet how things remain the same. The threads of friendship connect us to one another and remind us of that special circle that goes around us. When you see an old friend after a long span of time it is almost as if the time between collapses and disappears. You catch up on things, renew the friendship, and the connection can grow stronger. Friends are truly wonderful.
In tribute to the True North Arts Fabulous Friendship Festival, here are my best friends. They are always there for me: to lift me up when I am down and put a smile on my face, to get me to try new things like playing World of Warcraft, cooking new foods, or rearranging the furniture. They candidly share their unique perspective when I am over-thinking something. They always bring joy to my heart.
Here is the photo memory wall quilt that I gave my daughter Marianne for Christmas. It was started in a workshop at the quilt retreat and finished at home. Printed Treasures inkjet printable fabric sheets are washable and colorfast and were used to print these photos with excellent results. A few years ago I made a photo bed quilt for her brother Joe with computer and monitor blocks that I had designed. Screen shots of video game scenes were printed using a different brand of inkjet printable fabric sheets and the colors washed out when I washed the quilt. It was very upsetting to have this happen but now I am going to redo the screen shots for his quilt with Printed Treasures brand fabric sheets and applique the retangles down over the washed out scenes.
Later on tonight I will be going to an early midnight mass with my daughter. After a flurry of activity in the kitchen it is quiet in the house at the moment and I just wanted to take the time to express thanks for all the good things in my life. I am thankful for my children, my family, and my friends old and new for just being there. I am thankful for the roof over my head, good food to eat, my health, and a job to occupy my days well and pay the bills. I am thankful for the technology that makes it easy to keep in touch with people and expand your social network. And I am grateful for the creative community that exists and is growing here, spreading beyond geographic limitations and boundaries to inspire all to create, share and connect with one another. It’s awesome! Happy Holidays to all and may the spirit of the peace of Christmas be with you even if you don’t observe this particular holiday. Happy New Year and joy in creating.
It has been a busy month and I am behind in posting to my blog. Here is the quilt I made for my Aunt Ethel for Christmas. I decided to bring it to her a few weeks early for her birthday and she just loved it. It is a lap quilt approximately 45″ by 60″ which is the perfect size for living in a convalescent type situation. It was started at the quilt retreat in a Quilt Bus class with Kris Driessen from a pattern by Phoebe Moon called Stars in My Window. The design was square so I added strips on either end to make it rectangular. The fabrics are mostly florals and vintage late eighties and early nineties from stash.
My high school class had an incredible reunion this Labor Day weekend. There was a dinner dance at Cobbs Mill Inn and a party at Compo beach the next day. At the beach I took a lot of pictures of this place where we all grew up in Westport. It was so wonderful to see everyone and renew friendships. It made me realize how important old friends are and how easy it is to lose touch with people who mean something to us. Photos can be viewed on my Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryart/sets/72157622169885125/
Marianne had a graduation party last weekend and here are a few of the pix. It was a beautiful day with good company and wonderful food. First photo is engineers Ron, Marianne, Kevin, and Pat at the dessert table, 2nd photo is Marianne and her new Janome 625E Sewist sewing machine, 3rd photo is her favorite brother and his girlfriend Kelly, and 4th photo is Marianne with mom (that’s me!).
Marianne graduated from the University of Connecticut on Sunday May 10th with dual degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics. She wore stoles with tassels for Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society and the Engineering Honor Society respectively, and an Honors Scholar Medal. She also made the front page of the UConn Daily Campus newspaper - click here to see the article. She will be entering a Ph.D. in electrical engineering program at UConn in the fall. It was a very happy Mother’s Day and we are all very proud of her!
It was dorm checkout after final exams last weekend for both Marianne and Joe so it was a busy weekend. The house is filled with stuff at the moment, there has been a lot of laundry, and they are sorting through their things. It is great to have them home for the summer! Here are some photos.
